Bodies at Risk: Jawole Willa Jo Zollar And Ananya Chatterjea

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 7:00 p.m. ET
 

In this conversation, imagined as a time capsule, Jawole and Ananya will mark several historic moments in their journeys as Black and brown feminist choreographers negotiating their personal histories, intersectional politics and collaborations, and experiences of risk, survival and triumph. In asking what lessons are from the current moment, the artists will share video and stories from new projects. Moderated by UMass Amherst Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies Svati Shah and Hampshire College Assistant Professor of Modern/Contemporary Dance Deborah Goffe. 

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar founded Urban Bush Women as a performance ensemble dedicated to exploring the use of cultural expression as a catalyst for social change. In addition to 34 works for UBW, she has created works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Philadanco, and others. Ananya Chatterjea is founder, artistic director, choreographer, dancer of the Ananya Dance Theatre, the leading creator of Contemporary Indian Dance in the global arts and social justice movement.

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Bodies at Risk is a series of creative conversations between BIPOC performing artists, educators, activists, and other experts working to shift American society’s understanding of the racialized body and social justice. These events aim to engage, move, and surprise audiences through artistic demonstration and intellectual curiosity. Artist and audience chat included in each event.